To be honest, talking about the Leica S-SYSTEM is quite easy. The body is even a little smaller than the flagship DSLRs, but it has a larger sensor. Generally, if you are going to build a digital medium format system, most of your lenses will be the ones previously released in the film age. On the other hand, the lenses for the Leica S-SYSTEM are specifically designed for the system, so their performance is absolutely ultimate. If you want to start a new digital medium format system, I recommend this LEICA S-SYSTEM without hesitation because it is the most cost-effective way to get the top quality all at once, and you don't have to worry about the matching among components. All components are fine-tuned to work best in this system and this will satisfy existing digital medium format shooters who suffer from lack of a total integration of the components. I wondered what to photograph with this monster camera. What makes this LEICA S-SYSTEM unique is the perfect balance of size and quality, so I decided to handle it just like I do with a 35mm DSLR. In particular, shooting moving objects was fun because I felt like I was doing it with a 4x5 field camera!

( Photo & Text : K )

 

LEICA APO ELMAR-S 1:3.5/180 MM
It is good for portraits, but you can use it for nature photography, too. Thanks to APO, chromatic aberration is perfectly corrected. I wanted to show the tree's energy to keep standing at the cold snowfield, so I stopped down in order to capture each branch with sharpness. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA ELMARIT-S 1:2.8/30 MM ASPH.
Around 21mm in 35mm equivalent focal length. The branches were extended just like the one of roads that human beings have constructed. Or, it looks like an assembly of life forms. Sharp enough to the corners, but not too sharp. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA SUPER-ELMAR-S 1:3.5/24 MM ASPH.
The world of emptiness swallows every sound. About 10 to 15m to the subject. To capture this atmosphere vertically, you need about 17mm in 35mm equiv. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA SUMMARIT-S 1:2.5/35 MM ASPH.
It was very hard to keep standing in the snowstorm. It was just 7 to 8m to the trees, but they already looked hazy. This is an ultra wide angle lens, but has enough lights in the corners. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA APO ELMAR-S 1:3.5/180 MM
This shallow depth of field is only available on the large sensor and you may want to shoot something like this. I felt like watching a slow-motion VTR. Very sharp wide open. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
In a temple at Bangkok. It was interesting to find these gilded statues everywhere. This zoom lens is not in the least inferior to prime lenses and it's surprisingly compact. This lens covers a general-purpose range and convenient for outside shooting. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA SUPER-ELMAR-S 1:3.5/24 MM ASPH.
Very famous statue of the dying Buddha. It's perfect in terms of both sharpness and tonality, so I have no complaints! * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
It's very convenient to have a zoom with a wider-end. The shutter speed is a little too slow to shoot handheld, but I could do it thanks to the size and a nice feel of holding. I couldn't stop down so the bottom part is out of focus, but nice bokeh isn't it? * Shot handheld.

 


 

LEICA SUPER-ELMAR-S 1:3.5/24 MM ASPH.
The decoration was so detailed throughout this huge building. Even the shadow part is finely depicted at this intense against light. * Shot handheld.

 

LEICA SUPER-ELMAR-S 1:3.5/24 MM ASPH.
My mistake. The name of lens printed on the image is wrong and it's actually 24mm (other data is correct). It was so huge that I felt like I got lost in the altar. Of course I shot handheld because no tripod is allowed to use.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
At Amphawa floating market. I went there on a weekday, so the market was closed. The reception ladies at the bus terminal repeated "Don't go there. It's their holiday today!", but I wanted to shoot there without people. Here, I shot just like I do with a Leica M, and I was really able to do it with this camera. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
Maybe he's a local. I shot this smoker with his national flag. Having this wide-end makes this lens perfect for snapshots. Anyway, I was touched by the kindness of these people who kept greeting every time I pass and often told me the market was closed. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
At Bangkok. I looked down from the bridge even though this set costs a king's ransom. I'm acrophobic, and wonder why people get fearless when they look at the viewfinder. Used the tele-end handheld.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
Lighting was limited in the evening. I was able to use 1/60, and this is impossible with other conventional medium format cameras. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
A mother is amusing a baby at the bottom of the stairs. Shot at the wide-end. When I encounter a scene like this, I feel we are all the same human beings regardless of cultural and linguistic differences. ISO was 1600 and there are some noises, but considering this sensor size, this is just good enough for reportage. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
Now I decided not to freeze subjects. I guess the main target of this LEICA S is commercial photographers who recognize the potential of cameras without checking those ordinary "test shots". So I thought they want to see if this camera works even if they shot randomly, no, to be honest, I just ran out of ideas... * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA ELMARIT-S 1:2.8/30 MM ASPH.
I made another reckless attempt by using two ND8 filters, just like I was disgracing the master lens. I expected the picture quality to be degraded, but it's sharp enough because the lens is already razor sharp to the extent I feel pain in my eyes. * Shot handheld.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
The famous tricycle "tuktuk". They said the number would decrease because the government would not approve the new ones any more. The lens is so compact that I could attempt to shoot moving objects so many times (at least 10 times as many as what I'm showing on this review). Have you ever seen a zoom lens for medium format? It's like a cannon firing a missile! Seriously, this camera set measures equally to a flagship 35mm DSLR with a prime standard zoom (of F2.8). * Shot handheld.

 

LEICA SUPER-ELMAR-S 1:3.5/24 MM ASPH.
A view from a hotel room in Hamamatsu, Japan. In order to achieve a neo-futuristic picture, I used an extended shutter speed. Noise is reduced very nicely. * Shot with a tripod.

 

 

LEICA ELMARIT-S 1:2.8/30 MM ASPH.
At Sakushima Island in the Mikawa bay, Aichi-Prefecture. This is an interesting location where they have arts everywhere to revitalize the town. I took a picture of them and they became models in return. I also shot before they pose and this is what I’m using... don't trust a photographer :p. Again, with a double ND filter. If the LEICA S looks pompous, I wouldn't shoot this way. * Shot with a tripod.

 

 

LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-S 1:3.5-5.6/30-90 MM ASPH.
Bangkok at dawn. This place is hazy all day and has a special atmosphere at dawn as well. The tonality is nothing but excellent. It's neither too soft nor too contrasty. This is made possible only if the basic performance is prominent. * Shot with a tripod.